Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities.

Description

Background

Since its beginning, Michigan Extension has focused on bringing knowledge-based educational programs to the people of the state to improve their lives and communities. Today, county-based staff members, in concert with on-campus faculty members, serve every county with programming focused on agriculture and natural resources; children, youth and families; and community and economic development.

Todayís problems are very complex. Solutions require the expertise of numerous disciplines and the collaboration of many partners. Operating synergistically with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and other Michigan State University units, MSU Extension extends the Universityís knowledge resources to all Michigan citizens and assists them in meeting their learning needs through a variety of educational strategies, technologies and collaborative arrangements.

History

Michigan Extension work began before the organization was officially organized. The Michigan State College's (now MSU) first livestock field agent was hired in 1907. In 1912, the Michigan Legislature authorized county boards of supervisors to appropriate funds and levy taxes to further teaching and demonstrations in Extension work. Eleven agricultural agents were named that year. In 1914, Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act, which created the Cooperative Extension System and directed the nationís land grant universities to oversee its work.

With the passage of the Smith-Lever Act, the first statewide home economics and 4-H youth Extension workers were appointed; county home economics agents were appointed beginning in 1915. In the early years of Extension, "demonstration agents" showed or demonstrated new farming or homemaking techniques. Today, Extension agents use a wide variety of information systems to deliver educational information.

Principles

EXCELLENCE in educational programming and in our faculty and staff members.PEOPLE and helping them meet their most pressing needs.

CHANGE to insure relevance and continued excellence.

OPENNESS and INTEGRITYin all our relationships.

DIVERSITY because differences enrich.

ACCESSIBILITY to MSU from every corner of the state and beyond.

PARTNERSHIPS in our community-based delivery model.

Vision

Michigan has strong and healthy families and optimistic youth from all cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds.

Michigan has a profitable, globally competitive and safe food system in harmony with its natural resources base.

Michigan has a citizenry of all ages who understand their role as stewards of the land.

Michigan has viable and caring communities capable of generating meaningful jobs and satisfactory income levels for all its citizens.

Funding

MSU Extensionís funding is from the following sources:

13 percent from federal funds.

42 percent from state funds (includes support for Project GREEEN and the Animal Agriculture Initiative).

.6 percent from general funds (state funding to the university).

Seven percent from county funding through memorandums of understanding.

Counties also provide an additional 21 percent for staff, office space, travel and other county-level operating expenses including in-kind expenses.

MSU Extension offices and staff are in all 83 counties. Extension faculty on the Michigan State University campus conduct research and translate research results into educational programs. They act as resource people for Extension staff members in the counties. More than 29 academic departments and eight colleges work directly with Extension.

MSU Extension pays all or portions of salaries of approximately 286 campus-based specialists, representing 122.8 FTEs. Professional off-campus staff members account for an additional 302.75 FTEs. There are 115 FTEs assigned to support positions (program associates) and 40 graduate assistants.